International students should be particularly aware of the consequences of missing Contact Points: the Academic Office is obliged to report to the Home Office UK Visas and Immigration (formerly the UK Border Agency) if any Tier 4 students have been found not to be engaging with and attending their degree course. This will normally lead to the curtailment of their visas.

In general:

Where a student has missed three formal “monitoring points” in one academic year the student’s main point of contact for overseeing their academic progress should meet with the student to discuss progress and consider referring the student where appropriate to the relevant University Support Service(s). The main point of contact may be the personal tutor/supervisor, or in some departments may be the Director of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies (see Section 3). The Academic Office will write to all students that have missed three monitoring points and the student’s department will receive a copy of the e-mail.

Where a student has missed six formal “monitoring points” in one academic year the Academic Office will notify the Director of Undergraduate/Graduate Studies that the Department should refer the student to the Continuation of Registration Committee as set out in University Regulation 36 - Governing Student registration, attendance and progress, unless the Department wishes to present reasons why referral is not appropriate. Valid reasons may include, for instance, evidence that a student has resumed their studies. Correspondence to the student from the Academic Office at this point is also sent to the Director of Undergraduate/Graduate Studies

Where a student has missed eight formal “monitoring points” in one academic year the Department or the Academic Registrar will invoke the process outlined in University Regulation 36 - Governing Student registration, attendance and progress.